Petunia plant named ‘Balpelite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Balpelite’, characterized by its semi-double type flowers, colored red-purple with a lime-green edging, medium green-colored foliage, and low growth vigor, with a compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balpelite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balpelite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during January 2008. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Petunia cultivars with unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Petunia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection coded 2826-4, not patented, characterized by its single-type, purple-pictoee colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection coded 5458F-4-2-3-1-1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,642,436, characterized by its single-type, purple-colored flowers having prominent venation and a green edge, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during January 2009 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings January 2009 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balpelite’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type flowers, colored red-purple with a         lime-green edging;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Low growth vigor, with a compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and male parents primarily in flower type and flower color.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SUPERTUNIAS, PRETTY MUCH PICASSO ‘BHTUN31501’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,649. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘BHTUN31501’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a semi-double flower type         that is different from plants of ‘BHTUN31501’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a growth habit that is more         compact, as measured by plant width, than plants of         ‘BHTUN31501’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balpelite’. The plants were grown in 4-inch pots for 8 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balpelite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balpelite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in June 2012 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 8 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Balpelite. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding             selection coded 2826-4, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection             coded 5458F-4-2-3-1-1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,642,436. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Low vigor,             compact-mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 14.5 cm. Width: Approximately 21.2 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 4.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 9.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent             with a mixture of long and short hairs. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of young stem: 145A. Color of mature stem:             145A occasionally with an overlay of 187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 10. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Ovate to             elliptic. Margin: Entire, slightly wavy. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 5.8 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.6 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely             glandular pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Moderately             glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper             surface of young and mature foliage: 137A with venation of             144B to indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young             and mature foliage: 138B with venation of 144B to             indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately             4.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             144B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balpelite’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             10 to 12 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double, salverform. Quantity             per plant: Approximately 20. Fragrance: Slight.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 4.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 3.2 cm. Diameter at apex: Approximately             1.1 cm. Diameter at base: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture:             Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color             of petals: 144A. Color of tube: N79B with venation of N79A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 4.5 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5 primary, fused to form a tube and             approximately 5 to 6 irregularly shaped petaloids arranged             in a single whorl. Shape: Obovate. Appearance: Dull. Margin:             Entire, wavy. Apex: Rounded. Length from tube: Approximately             2.1 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width:             Approximately 2.2 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper surface when first             open: N74A and N74B with margins of 144A and midveins of             N79A. Color of lower surface when first and fully open: N74D             with margins and midveins of 144B. Color of upper surface             when fully open: N74B and N74C with margins of 144A to 144B             and midveins of N79A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.7 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless. Color of inner surface: N74D and N79D with             venation of N79A. Color of outer surface: N79D with venation             of 144B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:             Linear. Margin: Entire, slightly wavy. Apex: Rounded.             Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely glandular             pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper surface:             137A transitioning to 145B at base. Color of lower surface:             137B transitioning to 144B at base.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             145A, occasionally with an overlay of N79A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed with an irregular-shaped petaloid attached at             apex. Stamen length: Approximately 2.2 to base of             petaloid cm. Filament length of fixed portion: Approximately             8.0 mm. Filament color: 145D with a faint overlay of N79A.             Anther shape: Bilobed. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther color: 155A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color:             155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 2.2 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma             length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 144D. Style             length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Style color: 145C. Ovary             length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Petunia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Balpelite’, substantially as herein shown and described. 